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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting installed on the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 suspects have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, among them the senior figures of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both upwards and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it began, and took more than 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the investigation could require approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the incident broke out. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that warning systems in every tower were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on charges related to sedition on the weekend. He was involved with a collective demanding an independent inquiry into the blaze. An digital signature drive gathered more than 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Two other people, comprising a former district councillor, were also detained by police, according to local media reports.

Global Response

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the devastating fire...rather than silencing those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 residents, per a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are thought to be at least 65 years old. Several have resided in the government-supported development since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 attendees perished.